Almost 25 years ago, a fellow researcher in Belgium shared with me some information regarding my 6x great-grandfather, Jacques De Backer (1686-1764) who became a Bourgeoisie foraine by buying his citizenship in the town of Ronse. My correspondent told me that the source for this information was “familiearchief de backer” (De Backer Family Archive) records that were digitized by Herman Van Isterdael in 2001. I searched AGATHA for “familiearchief de backer” and damn me if I didn’t find it. Good news is there is a lot of stuff (I copied down the inventory of just the items in De Backer part of the archive. There are seven allied families and each of them has an inventory. The bad news is they will charge 0.64 euros per page.
He is the link to the archive: https://agatha.arch.be/en/data/ead/BE-A0514_115292_113984
Below is the De Backer inventory which I had translated from Flemish. I will have to go through this and pick out the items that are most interesting. There are 98 entries in the De Backer Inventory.
De Backer Family, Ronse > I. De Backer Family > A. Papers of a personal nature
Item No. | Description | Extent |
1 | Declaration of estate and liquidation of the estate of Petronella De Mulder, married to Jacobus De Backer in Sint-Maria-Lierde. 1751. | 1 folder |
2 | Deed of buyout of Maria Joanna De Backer from the community of property of Judocus De Backer and his other children. 1781. | 1 quarto/booklet |
3 | Notarial marriage contract between Andries De Backer and Maria Catharina Josepha Mollaert. 1788. | 1 folder |
4 | Deed of agreement between Judocus De Backer in Ronse and Andries De Backer, future husband of Maria Catharina Josepha Mollaert, regarding the cohabitation of the latter and the resulting community of property. 1768. | 1 quarto/booklet |
5 | Deed drawn up by Judocus De Backer of the financial contribution of his son Andries, married to Maria Catharina Mollaert, into the community of property of himself and his children. 1791. | 1 quarto/booklet |
6 | Valuation of the assets of Judocus De Backer. Undated, ca. 1791. | 2 items |
7 | Deed of sale of her maternal inheritance by Maria Catharina Bernardina De Backer, married to Gerardus Minne, to her brothers Andries and Joannes Augustinus De Backer. 1791. | 1 quarto/booklet, 1 item |
8 | Writ from Carolus Emmanuel De Schrijver, widower of Maria De Backer in Ronse, to Judocus De Backer to draw up an estate declaration for Joanna Catharina De Wadripont, his deceased wife. 1791. | 2 items |
9 | Estate declaration of Maria Catharina Josepha Mollaert, married to Andries De Backer in Ronse. 1793. | 1 quarto/booklet |
10 | Notarial marriage contract of Andries De Backer in Ronse and Anna Maria Van den Daele in Nukerke. 1794. | 1 quarto/booklet |
11 | Deed of sale of his properties on a life annuity by Judocus De Backer to his son Andries De Backer. 1795. | 1 quarto/booklet |
12 | Deed of agreement between Judocus De Backer and his son Andries De Backer regarding the maintenance costs of the former. 1795. | 1 item |
13 | Deed of sale of his maternal inheritance by Joannes Augustinus De Backer to his brother Andries De Backer. 1795. | 2 items |
14 | Deed of agreement between Carolus De Schrijver, widower of Maria Joanna De Backer, and Andries De Backer regarding the estate of Judocus De Backer. 1797. | 3 items |
15 | Estate declaration of Joannes Augustinus De Backer, married to Joanna Francisca Mollaert. 1800. | 1 quarto/booklet, 1 item |
16 | Letter to Andries De Backer regarding the division of the estate of Judocus De Backer, married to Maria Anna Van der Straeten. 1805. | 1 item |
17 | Deeds of buyout of rights to the estate of his deceased wife Maria Catharina Josepha Mollaert by Andries De Backer from her brothers and sisters. 1800-1806. | 5 items |
18 | Appointment by the family council of Louis De Vulder in Sint-Maria-Lierde as guardian of the orphans of Andries De Backer. 1817. | 1 item |
19 | Notarial marriage contract between Arnoldus Francis De Backer and Sophia Francisca Callewaert in Ronse. 1829. | 2 items |
20 | Notarial deed of partition/allotment between the children of Andries De Backer, married to Anna Maria Van den Daele. 1830. | 1 quarto/booklet |
21 | Document regarding the estate of Judoca De Backer. Undated, ca. 1870. | 1 item |
22 | Letters addressed to Francis De Backer. 1826-1829. | 14 items |
23 | Letter written by J. Kümmel in Maaseik to J.D. Keuse, curate of Saint Martin in Ronse, regarding the request to pray for the recovery of Judoca De Backer. 1827. | 1 item |
24 | Estate declaration of Joanna Prihenne, born in Harelbeke, married to Pieter Murez, widower of Magdalena Eyckerman. 1733. | 1 quarto/booklet |
25 | Document from the lawsuit before the Council of Flanders of Louis Van der Donckt, son of Floris, against Catharina Van den Bossche, widow of Jacobus Van der Donckt, son of Floris, concerning an inheritance. 1777. | 1 item |
26 | Appointment by the family council of Franciscus De Backer as guardian of the orphans of Pieter Lodewijk Pladutse, married to Maria Bernardina Maes. 1823. | 1 item |
27 | Receipt of payment for medical care provided to the late Judith De Backer. 1870. | 1 item |
B. Papers of a business nature > 1. Real estate
Item No. | Description | Extent |
28 | Deed of sale of a house in Ronse by Joannes Verrist, married to Maria Joanna De Wadripont, to Judocus De Backer, married to Joanna Catharina De Wadripont. 1745. | 1 quarto/booklet |
29 | Notarial deed of sale by Maria De Backer, widow of Louis De Wadripont, of a shop and its inventory to her son-in-law Judocus De Backer, married to Joanna Catharina De Wadripont. 1747. | 1 quarto/booklet |
30 | Deed of sale of half of a watermill and accompanying land in Nederbrakel by Jacobus De Backer to Maria Theresia Van Wielendaele. 1756. | 3 items |
31 | Deed of sale of the windmill ‘ter Kruyse’ in Nukerke by Frans Odemaere in Ghent to Judocus De Backer. 1769-1774. | 1 folder |
32 | Deed of sale of a house in Ronse by the heirs of Anna Theresia Capron, widow of Joseph Sanglan, to Judocus De Backer and his children. 1781. | 1 folder |
33 | Certificate from L. De Bie stating that 13.5 roods of land belonging to Judocus De Backer, near his mill in Nukerke, were taken for the construction of the paved road from Ronse to Oudenaarde. 1787. | 1 item |
34 | Valuation of the oil stamp mill in Ronse belonging to Andries De Backer, married to Maria Catharina Josepha Mollaert. 1788. | 1 item |
35 | Deed of sale of 17 roods of land in Nukerke by Martinus Van den Abeele to Judocus De Backer. 1793. | 1 item |
36 – 37 | Valuations of the mill ‘ter Kruyse’ in Nukerke at the request of the widow of Andries De Backer. 1816-1822. | |
38 | Deed of sale of their share in a house in Ronse and in the windmill in Nukerke by Theresia Judoca and Catharina Seraphina De Backer to their brother Arnoldus Francis De Backer. 1830. | 1 quarto/booklet |
39 | Deed of land cession by various owners, including Philomena De Backer, to the city of Ronse to create a passage between the Grote Markt (Main Square) and the Olifantstraat. 1876. |
B. Papers of a business nature > 2. Personal property / Movable goods
(Note: “Roerende goederen” historically translates to personal/movable property; this section primarily inventories loans, mortgages, and credit transactions tied to the family’s assets).
Item No. | Description | Extent |
40 | Deed of a loan of 500 guilders (fl.) contracted by Maria De Backer, widow of Louis De Wadripont, and Judocus De Backer, married to Joanna Catharina De Wadripont, from Maria Josina Jorez. 1748. | 1 quarto/booklet |
41 | Deed of a loan of 900 guilders (fl.) contracted by Judocus De Backer from the poor relief board (armentafel) of Saint Martin in Ronse. 1754. | 1 quarto/booklet |
42 | Deed of mortgage on an annual rent of 20 Parisian pounds (lb. par.) assumed by Guillaume Boulaert as compensation for the license to build the windmill ‘ter Kruyse’ in Nukerke, in favor of Adriaan Joseph, Baron of Bijlandt. 1762. | 1 quarto/booklet |
43 | Deed of a loan of 500 guilders (fl.) contracted by Judocus De Backer, married to Joanna Catharina De Wadripont, from Alexander Joorets. 1765. | 1 quarto/booklet |
44 | Deed of a loan of 900 guilders (fl.) contracted by Judocus De Backer from Judocus Van de Velde. 1771. | 1 item |
45 | Petition to the aldermen of Melden and Nukerke by Henry François De Pascal in Ghent to obtain payment of a rent secured on land recently purchased by Frans Odemaer and Judocus De Backer. 1778. | 1 item |
46 | Deed of a loan of 1400 guilders (fl.), subsequently converted into a life annuity, payable by Judocus De Backer and his children to Catharina François De Roucourt. 1781. | 1 quarto/booklet, 1 item |
47 | Deed of a loan of 900 guilders (fl.) contracted by Judocus De Backer from Jacobus, Susanna, Angelina, and Agnes Van de Velde. 1776. | 1 item |
48 | Deed of discharge releasing Carolus De Schrijver, widower of Maria Joanna De Backer, and his children from liability for a loan of 3400 guilders (fl.) contracted by Judocus De Backer and his children in 1781 from Emmanuel Thierry and his brother. 1791. | 1 item |
49 | Receipt for the repayment of a loan of 1225 guilders (fl.) by Andries De Backer to E. Hantson. 1806. | 1 item |
50 | Notarial deed of a loan of 400 guilders (fl.) contracted by the heirs of Andries De Backer from the administrators of the work school for poor girls in Oudenaarde. 1827. | 2 items |
51 | Notarial deed of a loan of 514 guilders (fl.) and 29 cents contracted by Arnoldus Francis De Backer from Maria Antoinette De Temmerman (later held by August Macquet). 1830. | 1 quarto/booklet |
52 | Receipts for the payment of a rent to the Bureau of Charity (Bureel van Weldadigheid) in Ronse. 1839-1870. | 8 items |
53 | Statement of mortgages encumbering the properties of the heirs of Andries De Backer. 1849. | 1 quarto/booklet |
54 | Certificate of cancellation of an entry with the mortgage registrar in favor of Edouard De Smet-Stevens in Ghent and payable by Francis De Backer, married to Sophie Francisca Callewaert. 1874. |
B. Papers of a business nature > 3. Leases
Item No. | Description | Extent |
55 | Notarial deed of lease of the windmill from the Lord of Ronse to Judocus De Backer. 1749. | 1 quarto/booklet |
56 | Notarial deed of lease of 150 roods of meadow by Judocus De Backer to Jean François Lestarquy. 1755. | 1 item |
57 | Notarial deed of lease of the windmill from the Lord of Ronse to Joannes Huijge in Sint-Lievens-Houtem. 1758. | 1 item |
58 | Letter from the lessee of the mill of the Lady of Ronse (J. De Backer?) to obtain an extension of his lease. 1758. | 1 item |
59 | Notarial deed subleasing several parcels of land belonging to the Chapter of Ronse by Judocus De Backer to Joseph Baudemont. 1760. | 1 quarto/booklet |
60 | Notarial deed of lease of a house by Judocus De Backer to Benedictus Josephus De Palme, silversmith. 1781. | 1 item |
61 | Deed of lease of 700 roods of land in Zulzeke by Judocus Joannes Eugenius Josephus Van der Haeghen to Andries De Backer in Nukerke. 1795. | 1 item |
62 | Deed of lease of 100 roods of land in Zulzeke by Andries De Backer to Gillis Velghe. 1797. | 1 item |
63 | Deed of lease of 260 roods of land in Ronse by Maria Eleonore Massez to Andries De Backer. 1803. | 1 item |
64 | Notarial deed of lease of a homestead and lands in Nukerke by Anna Maria Van den Daele, widow of Andries De Backer, to Jacobus Verschueren. 1823. | 1 quarto/booklet |
65 | Notarial deed of rental of a barn in Ronse by Anna Maria Van den Daele, widow of Andries De Backer, to Simon Deman. 1824. | 1 quarto/booklet |
66 | Notarial deed of lease of a homestead and lands in Nukerke and Zulzeke by Anna Maria Van den Daele, widow of Andries De Backer, to Pieter Jan Tonneau. 1826. | 2 items |
67 | Valuation of the tenant compensation for Jacobus Van der Schueren, former tenant of lands belonging to the heirs of Andries De Backer. 1827. | 1 item |
68 | Notarial deeds of lease of two parcels of land in Russeignies by Francis De Backer to Maria Augustina Sibille, widow of Pierre Joseph Battaille. 1834-1858. | 5 items |
69 | Deed of rental of a house in Ronse by Arnoldus Francis De Backer to Leander Emmanuel De Poorter. 1844. | 1 item |
70 | Deed of lease of a homestead and lands in Nukerke and Zulzeke by Seraphina De Backer to Joseph Tonneau. 1847. | 1 item |
71 | Notarial deed of lease of a house in Ronse by Francis De Backer to Joseph Dubois. 1849. | 1 item |
72 | Notarial deed of rental of a house in Ronse by Arnoldus Francis De Backer to Jan Baptist Spileers. 1856-1865. | 2 items |
73 | Deed of lease of two parcels of land in Ronse by Arnoldus Francis De Backer to Bernard D’Huyer. 1862. | 1 item |
74 | Notarial deed of lease of 40 ares of land in Ronse by Arnoldus Francis De Backer to Charles Rosier. 1865. | 1 item |
75 | Notarial deed of rental of a barn in Ronse by Arnoldus Francis De Backer to Frederik Penson. 1866. |
B. Papers of a business nature > 4. Taxes
Item No. | Description | Extent |
76 | Tax assessments of the heirs of Andries De Backer for the property tax in Nukerke. 1851-1866. | 1 folder |
77 | Tax assessments for the patent right (business license tax) on the windmill in Nukerke belonging to Francis De Backer. 1853-1861. | 1 folder |
78 | Tax assessments for the property tax of the widow of Andries De Backer on her property in Zulzeke. 1859-1866. | 1 folder |
79 | Letters patent (license documents) for the windmill in Nukerke of Francis De Backer. 1856-1860. | 2 items |
80 | Letter containing the Decision of the Permanent Deputation rejecting the request of Francis De Backer for a reduction of his business license tax in Ronse. 1866. | 1 item |
C. Disputes
Item No. | Description | Extent |
81 | Documents from the lawsuit before the Aldermanic Court (Schepenbank) of Ronse of Judocus De Backer, miller, against Judocus Van den Hende concerning slander and defamation. 1756. | 2 items |
82 | Documents from the lawsuit before the Justice of the Peace (Vredegerecht) of Ronse of Jean Baptiste Bouchez against Andries De Backer concerning the boundary between properties. 1807. | 1 folder |
83 | Deed of agreement between the heirs of Emmanuel De Rodere, married to Catharina Cruypenninck, and Jean François Le Clercq on one side, and Andries De Backer on the other, regarding the shared use of a water well and the construction of a sewer. 1811. | 2 items |
84 | Documents from the lawsuit before the Justice of the Peace (Vredegerecht) of Oudenaarde of Anna Maria Van den Daele, widow of Andries De Backer, against Maria Anna Van der Straeten, widow of Judocus Van den Daele, concerning the moving of boundary posts between their properties in Nukerke. 1824. | 2 items |
85 | Judgment in the lawsuit before the Justice of the Peace (Vredegerecht) in Ronse between Francis De Backer and Dionisius Van Coppenolle, in which the latter is ordered to pay his house rent. 1838. | 1 quarto/booklet, 3 items |
86 | Deed of agreement between Judoca De Backer and Françoise Fort, widow of Pieter Crement in Nukerke, regarding the ownership of a hedge between their parcels in Nukerke. 1842. | 1 item |
87 | Bailiff’s writ drawn up at the request of Franciscus De Backer against Stephanus Modest Glorieux concerning the payment of a life annuity. 1850. | 2 items |
88 | Deed of agreement between Alexander Bruneel and Andries De Backer regarding a water runoff between their properties. 1851. | 2 items |
89 | Documents from the lawsuit before the Court of First Instance (Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg) in Oudenaarde of Isidore Joseph Peutte and Jean Baptiste Van Coppenolle, married to Catherine Peutte, against the heirs of Andries De Backer concerning the digging of a ditch along a boundary wall. 1853-1858. | 1 folder |
D. Miscellaneous
Item No. | Description | Extent |
90 | Account drawn up by Judocus De Backer as administrator of the poor relief board (armentafel) of the Saint Martin parish, financial year 1745. 1 February 1746 – 31 January 1747. | 1 quarto/booklet |
91 | Statement of the sums that Judocus De Backer spent on the construction of a barn at the Brulmolen (Brul mill), property of the Chapter of Ronse. Undated, 18th century. | 1 item |
92 | Note from Judocus De Backer to the Chapter of Ronse regarding repair works on the Brulmolen in Ronse. Undated, 18th century. | 1 item |
93 | Statement of the damage suffered by Judocus De Backer due to the English army. 1794. | 1 item |
94 | Invoice for the digging of a water well at the request of the heirs of Andries De Backer. 1826. | 2 items |
95 | Invoice from notary Stalins payable by Francis De Backer for wood sales. 1841. | 1 item |
96 | Extract from the register of deliberations of the city of Ronse, granting permission to Francis De Backer to dig a ditch next to his meadow along the Ronse-Ath road. 1843. | 1 item |
97 | Invoice from Frederik Mercier payable by Francis De Backer for the baking of bread. 1848-1849. | 2 items |
98 | Final settlement between notary Adolphe Robette and Francis De Backer regarding the sale of wood. 1862. | 2 items |
De Backer Family Archive (familiearchief de backer)
Authors: Van Isterdael, Herman
Year of publication: 2001
Code of the inventory: FM16
Inventory
Familie De Backer, Ronse
I. Familie De Backer
A. Stukken van persoonlijke aard
B. Stukken van zakelijke aard
1. Onroerende goederen
2. Roerende goederen
3. Verpachtingen
4. Belastingen
C. Betwistingen
D. Diversen
II. Familie De Schrijver
III. Familie Mollaert
IV. Familie De Wadripont
V. Familie De Donder
VI. Familie Massez
VII. Familie Van Den Daele
VIII. Familie Callewaert
IX. Stukken zonder merkbaar verband
Gathering Leaves 